Connector for wrist watch bracelets, linkages, and the like



March 23, 1954 VALCQURT 2,672,668

CONNECTOR FOR WRIST WATCH BRACELETS, LINKAGES, AND THE LIKE Filed April 20, 1948.

mm 1.1" #8 T INVENTOR. Lou is E1 Valcauri jTTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 23, 1954 CONNECTOR FOR WRIST WATCH BRACE- LETS, LINKAGES, AND THE LIKE Louis Edmond Valcourt, East Providence, R. 1.,

assignor to Kestenman dence, R. I., a corporati Application April 20, 1948, Serial No. 22,046

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in connectors or fastening devices for attaching the ends of bracelets to wrist-watches or connecting linkages, cords, and the like to other articles.

One object of the invention is to provide a connector or fastening device for th ends of a bracelet or other linkage which is adapted to engage through a loop or bail on the watch-case, or an intermediary connecting member thereon, to form a substantially permanent connection between the bracelet or linkage and the watch.

Another object is to provide a device of the type indicated comprising two hingedly associated members, one of which is permanently fastened to the end of the bracelet, linkage or the cord, with the other member in the form of a hook adapted to be swung away from the first member to engage it through a loop on the watch-case, whereafter it is swung back into contiguous relation to the first member and secured thereto by bending portions thereof across its edges.

Another object is to provide a device of the type indicated which is adapted to effect a secure, practically permanent connection between the bracelet and the watch-case while being convenient to apply to use.

Another object i to provide a device of the type indicated which is compact in size and of neat and ornamental appearance with its mechanical elements enclosed and concealed from view when the bracelet is attached to a watch and worn on th wrist.

Another object is to provide a device of the type indicated which may be constructed from sheetmetal stamped out and struck up in shape to adapt it for economical cost of manufacture.

Further objects of the invention are set forth in the following specification which describes a preferred form of construction of the device as illustrated by the accompanying drawing. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a wrist-watch showing the ends of a bracelet attached thereto by means of the present improved connector;

Fig. 2 is a greatly enlarged top plan view of the connector shown as attached to a watchcase illustrated fragmentarily;

Fig. '3 is a similarly enlarged bottom plan view of the same;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the rockable hook-shaped element of the device which is adapted for engagement through a loop on the watchcase;

Fig. 5 is a side view of the end of the bracelet and a portion of the watch-case showing the Bros. Mfg. 00., Provion of Rhode Island 2 method of applying the connector to a, loop on the watch Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side view showing the hook-shaped element engaged through the loop on the watch-case with the end of the main member of the connector illustrated as partly broken away to disclose the position of the hook-member Fig. 7 is an end view of the connector showing the hook-shaped element rocked downwardly into position for engagement with the loop on the watch-case Fig, 8 is an end view of the connector showing the loop on the watch in transverse section to illustrate the engagement of the hook-shaped element therethrough; and i Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view of the connector on line 9-9 of Fig. 2 shown with the hookshaped element fastened in place after its engagement through the loop on the watch-case.

Wrist-watches are provided with various types of attaching means at the sides of their cases. Mens watches, for example, are usually provided with a pair of spaced lugs at each side of the case having holes therein for receiving the springpressed points or tips of cross-pins held in tubular fittings at the ends of the bracelet. Ladies watches, however, generally have a different form of attaching means such a a loop at each end of th watch-case for engagement therethrough of a link or ring on each end of the bracelet. The present improved connector is adapted for use with either type of attaching means on the watchcase; that is, it may be engaged directly with a loop on the watch or, in other cases, it may be engaged through a loop on a secondary or intermediate element carried by a cross-pin having the usual spring-pressed points held in holes in the spaced lugs on the watch-case.

In general, the present improved connector comprises a main or top member 2 adapted for permanent connection to the end of a linkage or bracelet and having a hook-shaped element 3 pivoted thereto to rock downwardly therefrom for inserting its hook portion through the loop L on the watch W; or through an intermediate ring or loop carried by a cross-pin. After engaging the hook-shaped element with the loop on the watch-case it may be swung back into underlying relation to the main or top member 2 and substantially permanently fastened in closely-nested contiguous relation thereto by bending projections of the metal or small tabs on the top member across the edges of the hook element.

Referring to the drawing, the hollow top mems The member 2 may her 2 is in the form of ornamental terminal portions for the bracelet while providing an enclosure for the hook-shaped element 3 of the con nector which is fastened in nested relation thereto on its under side. The member 2 may be of substantially tapering contour in outline or fanshaped in plan view with its rearward portion adapted to enclose the end of the bracelet b or other linkage and be permanently fastened thereto by soldering or other means. In some instances the member 2 may be formed as a part of the end link of the bracelet or secured thereto by tabs 4 on its under side bent therearound, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2 of the drawing. be constructed of sheet-metal stamped out and formed up in dies and preferably it is ornamented by embossing or engraving its upper face in any suitable design as indicated, for example, in Fig. l.

outwardly beyond the end of the bracelet the top of the member 52 isof fan-shape with its sides and ends formed with downwardly-projecting flanges 5, d, l and 8 which render it of hollow construction on its under side. At its forward end the member 2 is bifurcated to provide a recess or opening it for recei ing the loop L on the side of the watch-case W or any other circular or loopelike element connected to the watch. The forward bifurcations l i and iii of the main member 2 may be beveled along their edges as shown more particularly in Fig. 5 to heighten the artistic effect and its top wall may be crowned slightly to further add to the ornamental pearance of the connector. The two opposite sides 5 and t of the member 2 are pierced with holes i4 and forwardly thereof they are provided with downwardly-projecting ears or lug-s i5 and it. employed for a purpose later explained.

The attaching element 3 of the connector is hook-shaped, being constructed of somewhat thicker metal than the main or top member 2 and stamped out with an arcuate or curved slot ilextending transversely thereof to form an arcuate beak it for engagement through the loop L on the watch-case W. The rearward portion of the, hook-shaped element is provided with outwardly-projecting trunnions it and 2b which may be of square cross-section; or, in other cases, they may be rounded in cylindrical form. As herein shown, the trunions it and 2c are adapted to engage through the holes i l in the downwardly-proiecting sides 5 and 6 of the member 2, see Figs. 3, 5 and 6, to pivotally connect the element ii thereto. By thus hingedly mounting the hook-shaped element 3 on the under side of the top member 2 it is adapted to rock downwardly therefrom as shown in Figs. 5 and '7 to provide for convenience in inserting its beak i8 through the loop L on the watch-case W.

After the hook-shaped element 3 has thus been connected with the loop L on the watch-case W it is rocked upwardly into position between the side walls 5 and 6 of the top member 2 underlying the upper wall of the latter and enclosed thereby. The forepart of the hook-shaped element 3 is of substantially wedge-shape in plan View to adapt its sides to fit fairly close within the side walls 5, and 6 of the top member 2 with its forward curved portion enclosed by the front walls 1 and 8 thereof, see Fig. 3 of the drawing. After the hook-shaped element 3 has been nested within the confines of the top member 2 the ears or lugs 55 and iii are bent upwardly as shown in Figs. 3, 6 and 9 to engage against the under side ofthev element to substantially permanently hold it in place with its beak l8 engaging through the loop L on the watch-case W. The connector thus may be securely fastened to the side of the watch to guard against its accidental disconnection therefrom, the edges of the recess or opening 50 in the top member preventing the loop L from sliding along the beak iii of the hook. If it becomes necessary to detach the bracelet from the watch, for example, for its repair or replacement by another bracelet of new design, the connectors may be detached from the watch by simply bending the ears or lugs i5 and it down into open position as shown in Figs. 5 and '7, so that the hook-shaped elements a may be rocked downwardly to release them from the loops L on the watch-case W.

It will be observed from the foregoing speciflcation that the present improved connector provides an especially efficient device for attaching bracelets, cords or linkages to different types of watch-cases or to connect chains, necklaces, girdles and the like to ornamental articles of jewelry. The present improved device is slim ple in construction, yet strong and sturdy, practically proof against accidental disconnection while resistant to severe strains and stresses when used as a watch-bracelet connector; the hook-shaped element 3 being of relatively heavy metal and its pivotal connection with the top member 2 being reinforced by the engagement of its beak IS with the down-turned flanges 1 and 8 on the forward side of the top member.

While the present device is herein shown and described as embodied in a preferred form of construction and shaped to provide an ornamen-. tal appearance, it is to be understood that modifications may be made in the form and arrange-. ment of its parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

1. A connector for fastening a wrist-band or bracelet to a watch having loops on its sides, said connector comprising a main member formed at its rearward end to receive the end of the band or bracelet and a relatively flat top wall cut away at its forward portion to provide an opening for entering a loop on the watch thereinto, said main member having downwardly extending side walls with bendable ears on their under edges, end walls on the main member straddling the opening in its top wall, and a relatively fiat sheetmetal loop-engaging element formed with pintles at its sides in holes the side walls of the main member for pivotally mounting it beneath the top wall of the latter, said loop-engaging element slotted laterally across the greater portion of its width to icrm a hook with its beak adapted for insertion through the loop on the watch, said loop-engaging element being adapted to rock downwardly to insert its beak through the loop on the watch and to swing upwardly beneath the top wall of the main member with the bendable ears folded across its under side to secure it against opening and prevent accidental release of the hook from the loop on the watch.

2. A connector for attaching a bracelet or wristsband to the loops on the of a watch, said connector comprising a main member having a wedge-shaped top wall with a rearward extension of hollow construction to embrace the end of the band or bracelet, the forward portion of said member being cut away with bifurcations forming a rectangular opening at its center, side wallson the main member extending downward- 1y from its top wall and formed with ears projecting from the forward edges of said side walls, front walls extending downwardly from its top wall in substantially right-angular relation to its side walls, said side walls formed with aligned holes, and a substantially fiat connecting element having pintles inserted through said holes in the side walls to pivotally mount said connecting element beneath the top wall of the main member, said connecting element slotted laterally across its width to form a hook with a curved beak adapted for insertion through a loop on the watch when said connecting element is rocked downwardly, and foldable upwardly within the sides of the main member to locate the loop on the watch between the bifurcations on 6 the main member, said connecting element being held against rocking downwardly by the ears on the sides of the main member bent across its edges on its under side.

LOUIS EDMOND VALCOURT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 490,999 Uchermann Jan. 31, 1893 1,385,865 Czerwinski July 26, 1921 1,428,560 Robinson Sept. 12, 1922 1,451,160 Heberling Apr. 10, 1923 1,701,112 Johnson Feb. 5, 1929 2,441,930 Churchill May 18, 1948 

